Ruhi Choudhary Interviews Her Character
Ruhi Choudhary discovered her passion for writing when she was seven years old and wrote her first Star Trek episode. Being a fan of the dark and twisted, she found her calling in crime thriller. She likes to write stories that make you a little uncomfortable and characters that you struggle to make up your mind about but stay with you. She lives in Toronto and spends her days training to be a scientist and wishing it rained more often!
We’re delighted to feature this Authors Interviewing Characters piece!
About Our Daughter’s Bones
When Mackenzie opened the door to the kitchen, she froze. Her father lay on his stomach, blood pooling around his head. She lurched forward to touch him, but her mother held her back. Mackenzie felt like bursting. Her twelve-year-old heart couldn’t handle the grief. She would never forget that night, nor what her mother asked her to do…
Twenty years later, Detective Mackenzie Price is back in Lakemore, a town where the woods hide the darkest of crimes. Determined to atone for the sins of the past, she is unstoppable in her quest for justice.
When eighteen-year-old Abigail goes missing, Mack is sure the case is linked to that of Erica Perez, who vanished one year before. Mack’s co-workers believe Abby is just another runaway, but Mack isn’t convinced. Abby and Erica were friends, and when Mack finds Abby’s diary, she begins to suspect Abby knew something about Erica’s disappearance. Something that put her in danger.
Then a body is discovered in the woods and the race to bring Abby back alive becomes even more urgent. As Mack fights to keep her in the spotlight, she discovers a shocking secret that goes back decades. But that is not the only secret lurking beneath the surface, as Mack knows only too well.
The first book in the Detective Mackenzie Price series, Our Daughter’s Bones is a haunting and utterly unputdownable crime thriller, perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Angela Marsons and Karin Slaughter.
RUHI CHOUDHARI interviews Detective MacKenzie
RC: Thank you for meeting with me.
Mackenzie: I really didn’t have a choice after my sergeant and lieutenant insisted.
RC: You don’t come off to me as someone who can be easily pushed around.
Mackenzie: Is your article a character profile?
RC: Sort of. Giving our readers an intimate perspective. So why did you agree to this?
Mackenzie: Lakemore PD could use some good publicity, I guess.
RC: Glad I could help with that. I’ll start with the most basic question. Why did you become a police officer?
Mackenzie: The reason everyone does.
RC: Are you always this evasive or am I doing something to make you uncomfortable?
Mackenzie: You’re not. I don’t like to open up, especially to reporters.
RC: I heard.
Mackenzie: Ah, so why did you pick me? There are other detectives. Some chatty ones who would love to be featured.
RC: Someone recommended you saying you’d make an interesting subject.
Mackenzie: Who?
RC: Detective Nick Blackwood. Your partner.
Mackenzie: Of course, he did! He likes to torture me.
RC: You’re close to your partner.
Mackenzie: We’ve been working together for eight years. Nothing beats bonding over dead bodies and chasing bad guys. But…I’ll try to be more cooperative. No point in giving you a hard time. Shoot.
RC: You always wanted to chase bad guys for a living?
Mackenzie: Not always…I wanted to be a travel writer when I was a kid. I always wanted to get out of Lakemore and see the world.
RC: And did you?
Mack: I went to New York to live for a few years when I was twelve. And there I realized no matter where you go, people are the same. Secrets, lies, crime, bad things – they happen everywhere.
RC: Interesting that you left for New York right after your father went missing. You never even gave a statement to the police.
Mack: How do you know that?
RC: I’m a reporter. It’s my job to do some background research on my subject.
Mack: And what else did you discover during your research?
RC: You ask a lot of questions.
Mack: I’m a detective. It’s my job to ask questions.
RC: Ha. Nothing more than what I said. Why? Is there anything more for me to discover?
Mack: Then you’re not a very good reporter.
RC: Interesting… now you’re just piquing my interest. Do you think your father’s disappearance played a role in you wanting to become a police officer?
Mack: I have a habit of fixing things, fixing Lakemore, fixing the wrongs. If you’re looking for an officer with a personal redemption arc, you won’t find that here.
RC: You have a great sense of loyalty toward your small town.
Mack: I don’t think many of us realize the importance of place and community. It’s a part of our identity.
RC: I’d never even heard of Lakemore before. But this town is quite famous in Washington, isn’t it?
Mack: Famous for football, infamous for crime.
RC: That seems to be the mantra. If not in Lakemore, where would you live?
Mack: Oh, I don’t know about that. Maybe Scotland.
RC: Scotland?
Mack: Why not? I like castles, highlands, and gloomy weather.
RC: I’d thought you’d pick something closer.
Mack: Hey, it’s a fantasy life. Why not go big?
RC: As a detective, you’re exposed to a lot of dark stuff. Is it hard to compartmentalize?
Mack: I don’t compartmentalize. I’m used to it. But there are days when a case takes its toll.
RC: Like it’s a constant state of mind?
Mack: You could say that.
RC: How did you feel when you saw your first dead body?
Mack: Oh…that’s a heavy question.
RC: Just trying to give your profile a personal touch.
Mack: I felt like anyone else would. Shock, repulsed, and heartbroken.
RC: Is it hard to find that work-life balance for you?
Mack: Meh. I don’t really have a life.
RC: I thought you were married.
Mack: Not anymore. In the process of getting divorced.
RC: Oh! I’m sorry to hear that.
Mack: That’s life.
RC: It’s a hard adjustment, isn’t it?
Mack: Yes. I think I should pick up a hobby. Though my work keeps me busy at odd hours, but I think I need something more.
RC: You look like someone who spends a lot of time with punching bag. Maybe you could try wrestling?
Mack: I was thinking something more along the lines of pottery.
RC: I guess you end up wrestling a bit in your line of work. What advice would you give your younger self new to the job?
Mack: The advice I’d give myself I would never be able to follow.
RC: What would it be?
Mack: Be more approachable; talk more.
RC: They call you Mad Mack around here. An ode to your intensity.
Mack: It’s a silly nickname. I don’t think much of it.
RC: I’d take it as a compliment.
Mack: It would make a good title for your article. The Madness of Mad Mack.
RC: I like the sound of that! Where does your madness come from?
Mack: Unfinished business.
RC: Looks like I have more homework to do. Thank you for speaking with me.
Mack: Oh, we’re done? I thought you’d have more questions.
RC: You are somewhat of a mystery. I don’t think I’ll get more out of you.
Mack: What good is a story without any mystery?
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